Latics has been alerted to a temporary software compatibility problem between the administrators of the driving theory test, Pearson Vue, and the DSA.
This is resulting in the need for all provisional test candidates to take their theory test pass certificate information with them to the driving test centre for the examiner’s inspection before conducting the practical test.
Driving tests have been refused and cancelled as a result of a candidate not having these documents for inspection, despite the request to do so in the practical test application literature. For full details on what you need to take with you to the test centre, click here. This video gives you full information on the practical driving test:
Please ensure you take the correct documentation with you!
At Latics Driver Training, we have always been proud of our high pass rates and we will be continuing the trend but at a much faster rate for some of our customers. Our intensive and semi-intensive courses have always proved popular and now we can offer our customers an even quicker way to get their licence.
Our new fast ‘pass in a week’ crash course means that customers can now start their lessons on a Monday and pass on the Friday!
Although these courses are referred to as ‘crash courses’, rest assured, we will not be teaching you to crash! Quite the opposite. Lessons taken intensively mean that with little time to forget in between lessons, learning is much quicker.
In fact, latest Government research found that of all successful test candidates, the average number of hours taken with an instructor was 47 and the average time taken to pass the test was 13 months! With our pass in a week crash course, the cost will be much lower than taking weekly lessons.
Our all-inclusive ‘pass in a week’ crash course is being offered at an introductory price of just £599, which means that compared to taking lessons weekly, you could save hundreds of pounds. Although the majority of our customers pass in less hours than the national average, based on the national average figures, you could save over £400 with our ‘pass in a week’ crash course!
We’re also so confident that the vast majority of our customers taking the ‘pass in a week’ crash course will achieve a pass at the end of the week that we guarantee to pay for your next test if you are unfortunate enough not to pass on the first attempt!
Places on the ‘pass in a week’ crash course are limited so to avoid disappointment, we recommend that you ring us on 0161 345 3452 or contact us through our website asking for an application form.
We are officially 8 years old today! Latics Driver Training was launched on 5th November 2001 by business partners Claire Wilmot and Glyn Crossley who have more than 25 years experience in driver training between them. The company has expanded steadily over the years to become Oldham’s biggest and best driving school and has helped thousands of happy customers pass their test. Our team of dedicated instructors and our happy customers have been paramount to the success of Latics Driver Training.
Over the last 12 months, we have been busy expanding and offering new products. Director Claire Wilmot has visited local schools to give presentations and deliver road safety messages, our new ‘Pass in a Week Crash Course’ has been launched, and all the vehicles have been signwritten with the fantastic new Latics Driver Training branding.
Over the next 12 months, we aim to deliver the same high standard of driving instruction and customer service. We will also be launching our new and improved pupil progress system and updating our instructors with some of the new breed of extremely successful coaching methods being introduced to the driver training industry.
The driving school provides driving lessons in Middleton, Ashton, Rochdale, Oldham, Saddleworth, Hyde, Manchester and most surrounding areas. See our website for more information.
It’s always great to get positive feedback from our customers. When Rachel Richardson passed her driving test at the first attempt yesterday, she was so pleased that she just felt compelled to send us an email.
“I felt the need to write after completing my training today with Keith in his Fiat Punto, I have passed first time at the Rochdale test centre today and feel I couldn’t have done this without his superb teaching skills. Keith is everything you would want in an instructor, I have found him to be very patient and teaches at a level that is easy to understand and follow. As a nervous driver on my first lesson with Keith, he easily calmed me down and gave me the confidence I was lacking. I am so happy I chose Latics and that you directed me to this instructor and will be recommending you to my friends. Please pass on my sincere thanks to Keith.”
Thanks for your email Rachel and congratulations! (And well done to you too, Keith!)
Look out for updates to our website coming soon – our ‘Recent Passes’ page will be updated with photographs of all our students who’ve recently passed, and we’ll also be launching our ‘Pupil of the Month’ feature.
Marie Law DSA ADI became the newest member of the team at Latics this month.Marie, who previously worked for another driving school in Manchester is really pleased to be working with Latics and said ‘I knew Latics was the right move for me, I’m delighted to be part of the team’.
Marie is a fully qualified female driving instructor in Milnrow and offers driving lessons in Rochdale, Royton, Shaw and most of Oldham.
Welcome on board Marie, we know you’ll be a great asset to the team!
Ged Wilmot with Trevor Wedge (DSA Chief Driving Examiner)
Congratulations to Ged Wilmot, Manager and ADI Trainer at Active Driving Solutions, who achieved faultless results in his recent DSA ORDIT assessment.
Ged and Claire Wilmot, who provide DSA ORDIT Approved Driving Instructor Training to clients from throughout the UK (as well as for Latics Driver Training) achieved fantastic results on their bi-annual assessment with Ged gaining straight 6’s, the best result you can possibly get.
This is the second time Ged has achieved the ultimate result of straight 6’s as he also managed it on his recent ADI Fleet Check Test.
All instructors trained by Ged and Claire can be assured that they are certainly getting the best ADI training out there.Thisbenefits Latics Driver Training and the people who learn with Latics as all instructors trained by Ged and Claire really are trained to the highest standard.
Congratulations to Sadie Parsons ADI, who achieved a Grade 5 in her Check Test today.Sadie has been a driving instructor at Latics Driver Training for 5 years and is delighted at her result.All driving instructors must undergo periodic Check Tests and are graded 1 to 6.With just under 6% achieving a maximum Grade 6 and just over 50% achieving the average Grade 4, Sadie has done well to achieve a great result.Well done Sadie!
Sadie is available to give driving lessons in Saddleworth as well as most of Oldham.
This week, Latics Driver Training unveiled it’s new brand image, with all the fleet’s vehicles soon being branded with the latest livery. The innovative design, spearheaded by Managing Director Claire Wilmot, was unveiled on Thursday at the Latics Driver Training office in Oldham.
Look out for all our cars throughout the area as they are branded with the new eye-catching design over the coming weeks!
Latics Driver Training's new vehicle branding
Ric Hughes, one of the Latics Driving Instructors covering Ashton under Lyne, Glossop, Hyde and Oldham was the first to have his car branded with the new design. Ric said, “It looks great, and all my pupils love it! My car’s been turning heads wherever I go!”
Thanks to all the staff and customers at Costco in Oldham for a great Trade Fair today!
Claire Wilmot & Sophie Holland
We were able to meet with many members of the public who were interested in learning to drive (or knew someone who wanted to learn). Sophie Holland (Office Manager), along with Frank Walsh ADI and Ric Hughes ADI were there for the full day to hand out leaflets, pens and road safety materials to passing customers, and some even got to try out the Theory and Hazard Perception test on site, too! Claire Wilmot (Managing Director) said, “today’s trade fair here at Costco has generated quite a lot of interest, and we hope to do more of the same in the future. Latics Driver Training prides itself on being the best driving school in the area, and it’s been great to have been able to meet and answer questions from the public about learning to drive”.
Special thanks to Sophie, Frank and Ric for all their hard work!
The DSA has outlined several possible changes to the way people learn to drive. This is currently under scrutiny following the publication of the DSA’s ‘Learning to Drive’ consultation document, the outcome of which should be released shortly.
Possible changes include:
Changes to the marking scheme
Currently the driving test marking sheet simply records faults committed by the pupil during the test, which seems to be seen by most as a very negative approach. The DSA are therefore considering implementing a more competency-based scheme, whereby the pupil will be marked on a list of key skills, according to how well they deal with particular situations which arise during the driving test.
Changes to the set manoeuvres
In an effort to make the manoeuvres more closely relate to those required in everyday driving situations, the DSA are considering introducing an element of choice to the candidate. For example, the examiner may pull the pupil over at the side of the road and then ask them to turn the vehicle around using a method of their choice.
Independent driving
This proposed element has been undergoing a test phase at various test centres around the country to see how effective it can be. The idea is that the examiner would ask the pupil to follow the direction signs towards a particular place / landmark until asked to pull over. Latics would welcome the introduction of such an element – in our experience people struggle to find their way around once they’ve passed their driving tests, since they have only ever been directed where to go by their driving instructor.
It may be some time before the DSA implement these changes (if at all), but all Latics instructors will be encouraged to integrate the above elements into their training courses from May 2009.
“I felt the need to write after completing my training today with Keith in his Fiat Punto, I have passed first time at the Rochdale test centre today and feel I couldn’t have done this without his superb teaching skills. Keith is everything you would want in an instructor, I have found him to be very patient and teaches at a level that is easy to understand and follow. As a nervous driver on my first lesson with Keith, he easily calmed me down and gave me the confidence I was lacking. I am so happy I chose Latics and that you directed me to this instructor and will be recommending you to my friends. Please pass on my sincere thanks to Keith.”
The DSA has outlined several possible changes to the way people learn to drive. This is currently under scrutiny following the publication of the DSA’s ‘Learning to Drive’ consultation document, the outcome of which should be released shortly.
